Post by: Jillian Schinzing
My name is Jillian Schinzing and I am a 3L student staff member for the Center for Global Justice. This semester I am working with two other student staff members on a project for International Justice Mission (IJM) Eastern Europe. Together we are researching evidentiary requirements for trafficking in persons (TIP) crimes. In order to successfully prosecute traffickers, IMJ needs to be able to quickly identify relevant evidence in cases involving victims from other countries.
I have specifically been researching TIP requirements in Germany and how the evidence gathered there can be used in other member states of the European Union (EU). In Germany, prosecutions for TIP are largely successful because of the testimony of victims. The unique thing about the EU is the ability to form Joint Investigation Teams (JIT). These teams consist of judges, prosecutors, and law enforcement within several member states that work together for a limited and specific purpose of carrying out criminal investigations.
Although there are many NGO’s and governmental organizations working to prosecute traffickers, according to the 2019 TIP report, in 2017 Germany only saw 50 convictions. Of those 50 convictions, 26 resulted in suspended sentences where the perpetrators served no prison time, seven received only fines and only 18 actually went to jail. There is still a lot of work to be done to help prosecute and bring some justice to the victims of these crimes. Although we live in a fallen world where some may never see true justice, we live in faith that one day all will be whole and true justice will be served. I am again very thankful I get to be a part of working toward bringing a small piece of justice to the world.
Thus says the Lord: “Let not the wise man boast in his wisdom, let not the mighty man boast in his might, let not the rich man boast in his riches, but let him who boasts boast in this, that he understands and knows me, that I am the Lord who practices steadfast love, justice, and righteousness in the earth. For in these things I delight, declares the Lord.”
Jeremiah 9:23-24
This post was written by a Center for Global Justice Student Staff member. The views expressed in this post do not necessarily reflect those of Regent University, Regent Law School, or the Center for Global Justice.